SiriusPoint expands energy and marine with key appointment

SiriusPoint expands energy and marine with key appointment | Insurance Business New Zealand

Reinsurance

SiriusPoint expands energy and marine with key appointment

Trio’s hiring aims to bolster the firm’s “vital” divisions

Reinsurance

By
Kenneth Araullo

SiriusPoint has announced a strengthening of its leadership team with the appointments of Chris Fenn as head of marine, London, and John Hopper as head of energy.

Fenn joins SiriusPoint with over 25 years in the marine and energy insurance industry. In his new role, Fenn will lead the development and execution of the company’s marine insurance strategy both in London and on a global scale.

Before this, Fenn held several key positions at Markel International, including senior liability underwriter marine and energy, managing director, marine, and divisional managing director, marine, marking a 14-year tenure that began in 2008. Fenn also has experience in reinsurance from his time at Sirius International in 1995.

He will report directly to Steve Smyth, the international head of marine and active underwriter for Syndicate 1945, pending approval from Lloyd’s. Fenn’s appointment comes as part of SiriusPoint’s ongoing effort to grow its marine portfolio, with Smyth having joined the company in September 2023.

Hopper, meanwhile, brings more than three decades of experience in marine, offshore, and renewable energy underwriting to his role as head of energy at SiriusPoint. He will focus on managing and expanding the company’s energy insurance business, working from the London office and reporting to Robert Harman, general manager of SiriusPoint London Branch, and CEO & managing director of Sirius International Managing Agency (SIMA).

Hopper’s previous role was senior underwriter for the natural resources & sustainable energies team at QBE Europe, starting in April 2023. His extensive background includes serving as head of energy at AmTrust’s Lloyd’s Syndicate 1861 from 2014 to 2019.

Additionally, SiriusPoint announced Victoria Hopgood as senior underwriter for energy, further reinforcing the company’s expertise in this sector. Hopgood transitions to SiriusPoint from Liberty Specialty Markets.

“Marine and energy are vital components of SiriusPoint’s strategy to be a high-performing underwriter and to our overall business. We are excited to welcome best-in-class underwriting talent and market experience to the company to help support our ambitious growth plans,” SiriusPoint International president and CEO Rob Gibbs said.

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